Edsel Corsair

Edsel Corsair
Overview
Manufacturer	Edsel (Ford)
Production	1958-1959
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size
Layout	FR layout
Chronology
Predecessor	Mercury Monterey
Successor	Mercury Meteor

First generation
Overview
Model years	1958
Assembly	Louisville Assembly Plant, Louisville, Kentucky Somerville Assembly, Somerville, Massachusetts Los Angeles Assembly, Pico Rivera, California Ford River Rouge Complex, Dearborn, Michigan Oakville Assembly, Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door hardtop 4-door hardtop
Related	Mercury Turnpike Cruiser Mercury Park Lane Mercury Montclair Mercury Monterey Mercury Colony Park Mercury Voyager Mercury Commuter Edsel Citation
Powertrain
Engine	410 cu in (6.7 L) MEL V8
Transmission	3-speed manual 2-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	124.0 in (3,150 mm)
Length	218.9 in (5,560 mm)
Width	79.8 in (2,027 mm)
Height	56.8 in (1,443 mm)
Curb weight	4,300–4,400 lb (2,000–2,000 kg)

Second generation
Overview
Model years	1959
Assembly	Allen Park, Michigan Wayne, Michigan Somerville, Massachusetts Dearborn, Michigan Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door convertible 2-door coupe 2-door hardtop 4-door hardtop 4-door sedan
Related	Edsel Ranger Edsel Villager Ford Galaxie Ford Fairlane Ford Custom Ford Country Squire
Powertrain
Engine	332 cu in (5.4 L) FE V8
Transmission	3-speed manual 3-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	120.0 in (3,048 mm)
Length	210.9 in (5,357 mm)
Width	79.8 in (2,027 mm)
Height	56.2 in (1,427 mm) Convertible: 56.7 in (1,440 mm)

The Edsel Corsair is an automobile that was produced and sold by Edsel in 1958 and 1959. For 1958, the Corsair was built on the longer, wider Edsel platform shared with Mercury. For 1959, the Corsair shared the shorter, narrower Ranger platform with Ford.

The Corsair represented the next-to-highest trim level available within the Edsel brand. It rode on Edsel's 124 in (2997 mm) wheelbase. In addition to high-grade interior appointments, the Corsair also received additional stainless steel trim and deluxe wheel covers. Available either as a two-door or four-door hardtop, the Corsair, like the premium Citation, shared its roof lines with Mercury models, as well as internal body components. Body parts between the Corsair and Citation models could not be shared with either the Ranger or Pacer, which were built on the shorter, narrower Ford frames. A deep-dished safety steering wheel was standard.

Like the Citation, the Corsair was powered by the 345 bhp (257 kW) 410 cu in (6.7 L) MEL V8 (with four-barrel {four choke} carburetor), and came equipped with Edsel’s Teletouch automatic as standard. (This was a US$231 option on Ranger and Pacer models.) Unlike other Ford models that used a column-mounted gear selector, Teletouch placed its drive-selection buttons in the steering wheel hub where drivers were accustomed to finding the horn button. In emergency situations, damage to the transmission that might occur if the driver hit the Teletouch unit instead of the steering wheel's horn ring was prevented by an electro-hydraulic switch activated by internal transmission fluid pressure. A basic heater (as a US$92 option) and radio (at US$95) were available, and air conditioning was optional as well (at US$460). Also optional was an automatic trunk release, a tachometer, an automatic lube system, seat belts, a padded dash board, warning lights for low oil level and parking brake on, plus rear door safety locks to prevent young kids from opening them while the car is moving.

While its roll-out was highly publicized in the fall of 1957, the 1958 Edsel was a marketing disaster for Ford and Ford's corporate strategy for meeting General Motors' product line for product line. Total Corsair output for the model stood at 9,987 units, only slightly better than the Citation. Of these units, 3,632 were hardtop coupes (3,312 U.S. and 320 Canadian-built) and 6,355 were four-door hardtops (5,880 U.S. and 475 Canadian-built). Prices for the Corsair in 1958 ranged from US$3,311 to $3,390.

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Wikipedia